The fastest way to delete an app

Press and hold the app icon on your home screen or in the App Library until a menu appears. Tap Remove App, then tap Remove from Home Screen if you want to keep it installed but hidden, or tap Delete App to remove it entirely. Confirm by tapping Delete when prompted.

That's the method most people use because it's the quickest. The app is gone from your phone within seconds, and any data it stored on your device is deleted along with it. If you change your mind later, you can reinstall it from the App Store for free.

The other methods below work too, but they take more steps. Use them only if the press-and-hold method doesn't work on your device — which is rare, but can happen on older iPhones or if a setting is turned off.

Key Takeaways

  • Press and hold the app icon, tap Remove App, then Delete App to remove it completely from your iPhone.
  • Deleting an app removes the app itself and any data it stored on your phone, but you can reinstall it later from the App Store.
  • You can also delete apps through Settings by going to General, then iPhone Storage, selecting the app, and tapping Delete App.
  • Removing an app from your home screen is different from deleting it — the app stays on your phone but hidden in the App Library.
  • Apps you delete do not affect your Apple ID, subscriptions, or purchases tied to that app unless you cancel them separately.

Deleting an app through Settings

Open Settings and tap General. Scroll down and tap iPhone Storage. You'll see a list of all apps on your phone, sorted by size. Find the app you want to delete and tap it.

Tap Delete App, then confirm by tapping Delete in the popup. The app and all its data are removed. This method takes longer than press-and-hold, but it's useful if you want to see how much space each app uses before deciding what to delete.

The difference between removing and deleting

Remove from Home Screen hides the app from your home screen and dock, but the app stays installed on your phone. It moves to the App Library, where you can still find it by searching or scrolling through categories. You can put it back on your home screen anytime by pressing and holding it in the App Library and tapping Add to Home Screen.

Delete App removes the app entirely. It no longer appears in the App Library, and the space it used is freed up. You'd need to reinstall it from the App Store if you want it back. Choose this option if you're sure you won't use the app again, or if you need to free up storage space.

What happens to your data and subscriptions

When you delete an app, any data stored on your phone — saved games, photos, notes, login information — is deleted too. Some apps back up their data to iCloud or their own servers, so reinstalling the app might restore some information. Others don't, so the data is gone for good.

Deleting an app does not cancel any subscriptions you have through that app. If you pay for a subscription through the app — like a premium version or a service — you'll keep being charged even after you delete it. To stop the charges, you need to cancel the subscription separately in Settings under your Apple ID, then Subscriptions. Find the app and tap Cancel Subscription.

Purchases you made through the app (like in-app coins or unlocked levels) are tied to your Apple ID, not to the app itself. You won't lose access to them if you reinstall the app later, as long as you sign in with the same Apple ID.

Freeing up storage space by deleting apps

Apps take up storage space on your phone. If you're running low on space, deleting unused apps is one way to free it up. Go to Settings, General, iPhone Storage to see which apps use the most space. Large apps like games, photo editors, or video apps often take up several gigabytes.

Deleting an app frees up the space it occupied immediately. If an app is 500 MB and you delete it, you'll have 500 MB more available. This is useful if your phone is almost full and you're having trouble installing updates or taking photos. After you delete apps, your phone may run faster because it has more room to work with.

Apps you can't delete

Some built-in Apple apps — like Phone, Messages, Camera, Settings, and Health — cannot be deleted. These are core to how your iPhone works. You can remove them from your home screen, but they'll stay on your phone and in the App Library.

If you want to hide these apps from view, press and hold the icon and tap Remove from Home Screen. They'll move to the App Library and won't clutter your home screen, but they'll still be there if you need them.

Reinstalling an app you deleted

Open the App Store and search for the app by name. Tap the cloud icon with a down arrow (or the plus sign if it's a new search) to reinstall it. The app downloads and installs automatically. If you had an account in that app, sign in with your username and password to access your account again.

Some apps restore your data automatically when you sign back in — others don't. This depends on whether the app developer set up cloud backup. You won't know until you reinstall and check. If the app had a subscription, you'll need to renew it separately if it expired while the app was deleted.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does deleting an app free up storage space?

Yes. Deleting an app removes the app file and all data it stored on your phone, which frees up that storage space immediately. You can see how much space each app uses in Settings, General, iPhone Storage before you decide what to delete.

Will I lose my data if I delete an app?

Data stored on your phone — like game progress or photos saved in the app — will be deleted. Data backed up to iCloud or the app's own servers may be restored if you reinstall. To be safe, check the app's settings for backup options before deleting.

Can I delete apps that came with my iPhone?

No, built-in Apple apps like Phone, Messages, and Camera cannot be deleted. You can remove them from your home screen so they're hidden, but they stay on your phone. Third-party apps can always be deleted.

What if I accidentally deleted an app I need?

Open the App Store, search for the app by name, and tap the cloud icon to reinstall it. It downloads and installs within seconds. Sign in with your account to access your information again, though some data may not restore depending on how the app backs up.

Do I have to cancel my subscription before deleting the app?

No, but you should. Deleting the app does not cancel any subscriptions. You'll keep being charged until you cancel in Settings, Apple ID, Subscriptions. Cancel first, then delete the app to avoid unexpected charges.